The U.S. Postal Service has TEMPORARILY suspended Priority Mail International delivery to China as of Friday, January 28, 2022 due to transportation issues.
If your Priority Mail International parcel is already in transit, the USPS will transport the parcel to China and delivery is expected to be delayed. For packages entering the mail stream after January 28, 2022, the USPS will endorse the item as “Mail Service Suspended — Return to Sender,” returning the parcel to the sender. The USPS will provide a full refund of the shipping costs paid when service to the country of destination is suspended.
Alternate Delivery Options to China If you have a shipment you need to send to China during this suspension period, we recommend the following options:
What is GlobalPost International Standard? GlobalPost International Standard uses a network of postal carriers which provides a similar service to First Class Package International Service at a lower rate. If you don’t see GlobalPost International Standard as an option in your Stamps.com shipping software, contact Customer Care at 1-888-434-0055 (open Monday to Friday, 6 am to 6 pm PT) to request access to GlobalPost carrier services.
The U.S. Postal Service has TEMPORARILY suspended mail and parcel delivery to Hong Kong due to transportation issues with widespread cancellations and restrictions throughout the Hong Kong territory. Delivery service was suspended starting on Friday, January 14, 2022.
The USPS mailing and shipping disruption includes the following services:
If your parcel is already in transit, either the USPS or Hongkong Post will endorse the item as “Mail Service Suspended — Return to Sender” and then place the package in the mail stream for return. The USPS will provide a full refund of the shipping costs paid when service to the country of destination is suspended.
Alternate Delivery Options to Hong Kong If you have a shipment you need to send to Hong Kong during this suspension period, we recommend the following options:
What is GlobalPost International Standard? GlobalPost International Standard uses a network of postal carriers which provides a similar service to First Class Package International Service at a lower rate. If you don’t see GlobalPost International Standard as an option in your Stamps.com shipping software, contact Customer Care at 1-888-434-0055 (open Monday to Friday, 6 am to 6 pm PT) to request access to GlobalPost carrier services.
The USPS has announced they will be reducing the size of some free Priority Mail boxes and envelopes. Two Priority Mail envelopes and six Priority Mail boxes will be getting smaller, with the reductions ranging from 1/8″ smaller in length on the Priority Mail Tyvek envelope to 2 1/2″ smaller in width on the Priority Mail Regional Rate Box B.
The USPS states these changes are being made to help process Priority Mail boxes and envelopes more efficiently on their sorting equipment, reducing the need for manual package sortation.
Priority Mail Box Size Changes
Item
Service
USPS Store SKU
OLD Outside Dimensions
NEW Outside Dimensions
Summary of Change
Envelope
Priority Mail Tyvek Envelope
EP14
11-5/8” (W) x 15-1/8” (L)
11-5/8” (W) x 15” (L)
Length of envelope is getting smaller by 1/8"
Envelope
Priority Mail APO/FPO Tyvek Envelope (Mili-Pac)
MILIPAC
11-5/8” (W) x 15-1/8” (L)
11-5/8” (W) x 15” (L)
Length of envelope is getting smaller by 1/8"
Box
Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box
LFRB
6” (H) x 12-1/4” (W) x 12-1/4” (L)
6” (H) x 12” (W) x 12-1/4” (L)
Width of box is getting 1/4" smaller
Box
Priority Mail APO/FPO Large Flat Rate Box
MILIFRB
6” (H) x 12-1/4” (W) x 12-1/4” (L)
6” (H) x 12” (W) x 12-1/4” (L)
Width of box is getting 1/4" smaller
Box
Priority Mail
0-1092 Box
2-7/8” (H) x 12-1/4” (W) x 13-11/16” (L)
2-7/8” (H) x 12” (W) x 13-11/16” (L)
Width of box is getting 1/4" smaller
Box
Priority Mail
0-1095 Box
3-1/8” (H) x 12-1/2” (W) x 15-5/8” (L)
3-1/8” (H) x 12’ (W) x 15” (L)
Width of box is getting 1/2" smaller, length getting 5/8" smaler
Box
Priority Mail Regional Rate Box B
RRB-B2
3” (H) x 14-1/2” (W) x 16-1/4” (L)
3” (H) x 12” (W) x 15” (L)
Width of box is getting 2 1/2" smaller, length is getting 1 1/4" smaler
Box
Priority Mail
Box 7
8-1/2” (H) x 12-1/4” (W) x 12-1/4” (L)
8-1/2” (H) x 12” (W) x12-1/4” (L)
Width of box is getting 1/4" smaller
Online retailers who have extra stock of the older box sizes will still be able to use the USPS free shipping supplies until their boxes and envelopes are exhausted. The new box sizes started shipping from the USPS.com site in late September 2021.
9/15/2021 Update: The USPS has temporarily suspended Priority Mail International shipments to Australia as of September 17, 2021. To avoid disruption, use GlobalPost Standard or Priority Mail Express International to ship your packages to Australia. Get more info on GlobalPost Standard
The U.S. Postal Service has TEMPORARILY suspended First Class Package International Service (as of September 3, 2021) and Priority Mail International (as of September 17, 2021) delivery to Australia due to carrier issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Priority Mail Express International delivery is not being impacted and mailpieces will continue to be delivered.
If your First Class Package International Service parcel is already in transit, the international carriers will endorse the items as “Mail Service Suspended — Return to Sender” and then place the package in the mail stream for return. The USPS will provide a full refund of the shipping costs paid when service to the country of destination is suspended.
Alternate Delivery Options to Australia If you have a shipment you need to send to Australia during this suspension period, we recommend the following options:
What is GlobalPost International Standard? GlobalPost International Standard uses a network of postal carriers which provides a similar service to First Class Package International Service at a lower rate. If you don’t see GlobalPost International Standard as an option in your Stamps.com shipping software, contact Customer Care at 1-888-434-0055 (open Monday to Friday, 6 am to 6 pm PT) to request access to GlobalPost carrier services.
The U.S. Postal Service will be changing delivery times for First Class Package Service in the coming months. The proposed changes are expected to create longer delivery times for parcels traveling to farther distances (Shipping Zones 6, 7 and 8).
First Class Package Service is an ounce-based shipping service with the maximum weight of 15.999 ounces. The service, which is hugely popular with apparel, jewelry and cosmetics retailers, provides package delivery nationwide within 1 to 4 days including tracking for a maximum price of $5.98.
The suggested service change will remove air transport for First Class Package Service delivery to help lower costs and find transportation efficiencies. Currently, approximately 31% of First Class Package Service is transported via air carriers.
In fiscal year 2020, the USPS shipped 1.8 billion packages via First Class Package Service. Of that volume, the proposal would impact:
• 32% of the total First Class Package Service parcels shipped in FY 2020 (primarily Zones 6, 7 and 8) would see additional delivery time, moving from a three-day service standard to a four or five-day standard. • 64% of the total First Class Package Service volume would not be impacted at all. • 4% of the total First Class Package Service volume would see a service upgrade from three-day to two-day service.
First Class Package Service delivery volume has increased in recent years due to its low cost and faster delivery times being very appealing to online retailers:
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